Americans are more likely to buy, not rent

According to the March 2012 Fannie Mae National Housing Survey, 48 percent of Americans who responded expect rental prices to increase, and the expectation is that prices will rise by 4.1 percent over the next 12 months, the highest number recorded to date and an increase from the 3.5 percent recorded in February.

Also, 33 percent of respondents expect home prices to go up over the next 12 months, a 5 percent increase from last month. Americans project prices will go up by 0.9 percent over the same time period.

With expectations for an increase in rental prices and the value of homes, a large percentage, 73 percent, said now is a good time to buy, a 3 percent increase from last month, while only 14 percent said it is a good time to sell.

If respondents were going to move, 66 percent they would buy a home, while 30 percent of respondents said they would rent…